A potentially monstrous clash is in the offing this Saturday with two-mile chasers Shishkin and Energumene set for a belated meeting in the SBK Clarence House Chase at Ascot. Willie Mullins declared his intent to run Energumene in the Grade 1 last month but it was only on Saturday that Nicky Henderson affirmed his intention to declare Shishkin.

Henderson had come in for strong criticism when ruling Shishkin out of his long-held target of the Tingle Creek at Sandown last month citing that he wasn’t happy with the eight-year-old at home. A similar reaction occurred when Altior was a late absentee from the same race last season.

For that reason, it was somewhat a surprise that Henderson declared his intent to run Shishkin this Saturday, given that track record and the criticism it may lead to if he is subsequently taken out.

Speaking at Kempton on Saturday, just after Shishkin had completed a piece of work before racing, Henderson told Racing TV: “We’re going to give it the green light, Nico (de Boinville) was delighted with him. We’re all on barring any accidents and things that came back to haunt you during the week.

He’s a heck of a lot lighter since he came here

“We won’t do anything with him really between now and then – he might jump five fences or something. His work was very good. It was what Nico was looking for before he ran his Kempton race last time. He’s a heck of a lot lighter since he came here (for that race). He’s back down to last year’s weight and I’d like to think we’re in good shape.”

Shishkin and Energumene had initially looked set to clash at last season’s Arkle Novice Chase in Cheltenham but a late problem ruled the latter out. Shishkin duly took advantage with a bloodless success before going on to score again at Aintree while Energumene came back to win easily at Punchestown.

Unbeaten

The pair are both unbeaten over fences and their seasonal debut efforts were both very promising and displayed their contrasting styles.

Energumene makes all his own running. A dual Grade 1 winner in Notebook tried to keep up with him in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork in November but eventually trailed in 42 lengths adrift.

Shishkin can sit in behind and pounce. His acceleration is lethal and he showed similarities to his old stablemate Altior in his pomp when winning the Desert Orchid Chase last month – having initially looked to be in slight trouble before finding an extra gear.

It all makes for an intriguing clash of styles, a high stakes game of cat and mouse. Willie Mullins and Paul Townend won the Clarence House Chase for three years in a row with Un De Sceaux from 2016 to 2018 but were stopped in their tracks seeking a fourth victory with that horse by Henderson’s Altior.

This is the new age of two-mile chasers – the pair are also top of the market for the Queen Mother Champion Chase – and a salivating clash is on the cards.

DRF

Meanwhile, Leopardstown are eagerly awaiting news from Government on whether they can increase their capacity for the top class Dublin Racing Festival meeting on 5 and 6 February.

The meeting usually attracts 14,000 each day but organisers have so far capped the attendance at 5,000, with tickets sold out already. NPHET were due to meet this week to discuss proposals to ease restrictions in the coming weeks.

The meeting will be headlined by the ever popular Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore as the pair go for a hattrick of wins in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle.